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| Yeah, home really doesn't suck at all. Hard to believe that's real life and not some backdrop! |
Granted, not quite with the frequency I'd imagined, but we're trying.
Originally, I had envisioned that moving Stan to Canaan would afford me with the opportunity to ride him 3x a week at a minimum. Hahahaha. While the idea wasn't totally ludicrous, the reality was strikingly different.
Life [due to work] has been so exceptionally insane lately. It's my new norm, I fear, and while I am and will continue to adjust, it just takes time. Unfortunately, the adjustment period has come at an unfortunate time for prepping a non-Arab for a small endurance feat.
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| Stan's first visit along the Blackwater River |
I know I haven't put nearly the time into him that I should have, but I know I have done all that I could have considering my current amalgamation of chaos.
From July 4 through July 21, Stan was only ridden 5 times. (Oh god, seeing that in writing seems woefully inadequate. Erm, quality over quantity?) On each of those rides, he climbed a minimum of 1,000 feet. The shortest ride was 2½ miles and the longest ride was 23 miles.
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| After 15+ miles of leading, Stan was done. Fortunately MJ did a great job. |
We're 12 days from race day today. I know Stan is in better shape than many horses and have no doubt he can complete the 30 miles required of us. I also know that the terrain won't bother him considering we have been climbing much more than we will have to do at RBTR.
I have a good conditioning schedule lined up in these last few days before the race. And I also have a solid electrolyting plan in place to help guarantee further success.
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| Lean, mean, endurance machine! |
But if I'm being completely honest, I'm still worried about pulsing to criteria within the time limit. The joys of a non-Arab in this sport!
I know how to come into a hold slow and easy and plan to have a solid crew to sling and scrape ice water, but still, we won't know if it's enough til we're in the moment! I can only pray for a lovely breeze to help us out...
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| This old QH does NOT walk fast. |
With careful planning and a bit of luck, we should be just fine. Logical Brain knows this, but Irrational Brain still tickles at the back of my mind making me fear failure more than I should.
I only want to succeed so badly so that I can sponsor Lauren through her first LD on her own horse. You see, she's done an exceptional job stepping up to the plate and conditioning MJ this summer. He's more than LD-ready and should have no problems at RBTR, I just hope my old man and I can show up to help her through it!
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| I'm so proud of Lauren for getting out there and doing what many 13 year
olds don't have the initiative to do. She's been working with her horse 6 days a week in some fashion all summer to make sure he can be the best he can be. |
Stay tuned for how this may go... It's going to be exciting right down to the end!
Tell me about a time you were down to the wire and were uncertain about how a competition / lesson / clinic would go. What was the outcome? Or perhaps you've had someone else relying on you to help through something, do you feel more pressure as a result? Or maybe you're a steady-eddy no matter what the situation?
ugh i hate feeling under prepared for big events. definitely can make me a little queasy. but i do the same thing you're doing : take care to do my best with all the things i *can* control, and just trust that the rest will go the way it ought. sometimes that's easier said than done tho lol...
ReplyDeleteSo much easier said than done! I am crossing my crossables things work out.
DeleteYou have the knowledge of the trail on your side too. You know that ride inside and out and will make excellent decisions along the way. Also, I know of rides where a juniors mentor was unable to continue and someone else picked up the junior to let them finish. You'll do great out there with Stan!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, lady, you're totally right. And yeah, I know she will find a soft landing if I can't go. I know how much she wants to ride with me though so I'm trying to make that happen for her. Being accountable and such for the things I've given my word to haha
DeleteGood luck! The irrational part of me never feels prepared. The rational side says we've done all we can and I know my job and can do the best I can for my horse... but of course irrational wins out! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThat damn irrational side is the worst. Thank you!
DeleteOoof I know nothing about endurance so it all sounds very intimidating to me. Best of luck to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you. We shall survive or we shant haha
DeleteI always end up feeling unprepared the week before a show or clinic. Usually I am actually prepared and I just force myself to take it easy that week and rely on our training up to that point. It's really hard mentally to not try and drill things.
ReplyDeleteOur last show I hadn't ever run through First Three with Mort and it all worked out. I'm sure your experience will help Stan through it!
Yeah, the mental game is definitely the worst part of any competition, I think.
DeleteTHIS. This post really hits home. July has not been a great month for riding. Sure, everyone deals with it, but obligations from work and life in general sometimes take more precedence in life that we wish. April has required a lot more attention, as you might guess. So, Capt. Ponycard has just had to take a back seat. Granted we aren't really training for anything at the moment.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, I look forward to volunteering for the RBTR and will cheer you both on!
It's been a BUSY month for sure! Also, where the HELL is summer going? I feel like time is flying by!
DeleteJust do the best you can do - I've been kind of dealt the same cards with lack of riding, but it's not like you are throwing him into a 100mile race with no prep work. Have fun at the race :)
ReplyDeleteHaha yeah. I keep telling myself, "How many times have you told people 30 miles isn't far? How many times have you told people ANY horse can do a 30? Shuttup and take your own advice." lol
DeleteGood luck at the ride. It sounds like you're pretty prepared. The heat sounds like the worst part of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, lady! The heat is absolutely the worst factor...looks mild right now. Hoping that forecast holds!
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